Kanji Clarification Test: A Perceptual Priming Test for Memory Study with Single Kanji Characters

Abstract

The primary goal of the present study was to develop and examine a new perceptual priming test—Kanji clarification test (KCT)—, which is designed to minimize the effects of conceptual influences on perceptual priming using single Kanji characters as test materials. In Experiment 1, manipulation of attention in the study phase did not affect perceptual priming on the KCT, whereas it significantly influenced performance in the corresponding explicit memory test. In Experiment 2, priming effects on the KCT was eliminated when different form (in Kana script) of target items had been presented at study even though performance in recognition test showed significant memory of those studied target items. Results from the two experiments indicate that the KCT is a sufficient and sensitive perceptual priming test for implicit memory research using single Kanji characters.